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Timeline Event

Battle of the Pelennor: Overview

Meaning:
also called
The Battle of the Pelennor Field
The Battle of the Fields of Pelennor
The Battle of the Field of Gondor
The Greatest Battle of the Age

Event Type: Military/Strategic

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: March 15, 3019

Description:

The culminating event in the Siege of Minas Tirith; see that entry for an overview:

Table of Contents:
The Summary
The Enemy
The Prelude
The Battle
The Aftermath



The Summary
The great battle in front of Minas Tirith that broke its siege.

The Enemy
[Troll-men] and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight....

[The] Southrons were bold men and grim, and fierce in despair; and the Easterlings were strong and war-hardened and asked for no quarter.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 6, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

'[A] great fleet... manned by the corsairs of Umbar....'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith


The Prelude
'[Mordor] is growing and darkening now; and therefore our fear and disquiet grow too. And the Fell Riders, less than a year ago they won back the crossings, and many of our best men were slain. Boromir it was that drove the enemy at last back from this western shore, and we hold still the near half of Osgiliath. For a little while. But we await now a new onslaught there. Maybe the chief onslaught of the war that comes.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

'But why were the beacons lit last night?'

'It is over-late to send for aid when you are already besieged,' answered Beregond. 'But I do not know the counsel of the Lord and his captains. They have many ways of gathering news.... my lord Faramir is abroad, beyond the River on some perilous errand, and he may have sent tidings.

'But if you would know what I think set the beacons ablaze, it was the news that came yestereve out of Lebennin. There is a great fleet drawing near to the mouths of Anduin, manned by the corsairs of Umbar in the South. They have long ceased to fear the might of Gondor, and they have allied them with the Enemy, and now make a heavy stroke in his cause. For this attack will draw off much of the help that we looked to have from Lebennin and Belfalas, where folk are hardy and numerous. All the more do our thoughts go north to Rohan....

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

March [3019]
8
Aragorn takes the 'Paths of the Dead' at daybreak; he reaches Erech at midnight....

[See: Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead]

[See also: Corsair fleet approaches the Mouths of the Anduin]
[See also: Denethor sends for aid from Rohan]

10
The Dawnless Day. The Muster of Rohan: the Rohirrim ride from Harrowdale....

[See: Muster of the Rohirrim]
[See: Ride of the Rohirrim]

11
... Aragorn reaches Linhir and crosses into Lebennin....

[See: Aragorn crosses into Lebennin]

13
... Aragorn reaches Pelargir and captures the fleet....

[See: Aragorn captures the Corsair fleet at Pelargir]

14
... Minas Tirith is besieged. The Rohirrim led by the Wild Men come to the Grey Wood.

[See: Ghân-buri-Ghân guides the Rohirrim to the Grey Wood]

The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age


The Battle
15 March 3019
... The horns of the Rohirrim are heard at cockcrow. Battle of the Pelennor. Théoden is slain. Aragorn raises the standard of Arwen....

[See: Charge of the Rohirrim begins the Battle of the Pelennor]
[See: Théoden slays the Chieftain of the Haradrim]

[See: Théoden, King of Rohan, slain by the Witch-king]
[See: Éomer becomes King of Rohan]

[See: Witch-king slain by Éowyn and Merry]
[See: Éowyn falls while slaying the Witch-king]
[See: Merry falls after slaying the Witch-king]

[See: Éomer takes a last stand]
[See: Aragorn arrives with the Corsair fleet]

[See: Sauron's forces defeated]
[See: Siege of Minas Tirith broken]

The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age


The Aftermath
[Not] one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas.... Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor; and to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off: a rumour of the wrath and terror of Gondor.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 6, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?'

'Walk no more in the shadows, but awake!' said Aragorn. 'You are weary. Rest a while, and take food, and be ready when I return.'

'I will, lord,' said Faramir. 'For who would lie idle when the king has returned?'

'Farewell then for a while!' said Aragorn. 'I must go to others who need me.' And he left the chamber... As he... shut the door Pippin heard Ioreth exclaim:

'King! Did you hear that? What did I say? The hands of a healer, I said.' And soon the word had gone out from the House that the king was indeed come among them....

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 8, The Houses of Healing

At the doors of the Houses many were already gathered to see Aragorn, and they followed after him; and when at last he had supped, men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound, or who lay under the Black Shadow. And Aragorn arose and went out, and he sent for the sons of Elrond, and together they laboured far into the night. And word went through the City: 'The King is come again indeed.' And they named him Elfstone, because of the green stone that he wore, and so the name which it was foretold at his birth that he should bear was chosen for him by his own people.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 8, The Houses of Healing

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 3Sep04

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